In a swift decision on July 18, 2024, a Liberty County jury delivered a capital murder conviction against Edwin Thomas Baty, 57, in the 253rd State District Court. The jury took less than an hour to find Baty guilty of the May 1, 2022, murder of 32-year-old Christopher Aaron Jorgensen. The fatal shooting occurred at Baty’s residence on CR 126 off FM 563 in the Moss Bluff area of south Liberty County.
Baty was taken into custody on May 3, 2022, and held in the Liberty County Jail on a $100,000 bond. The arrest came after a confrontation involving Baty, Jorgensen, and Baty’s friend, Alvin Zachary. Initially, the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office reported that the confrontation was about a damaged truck, with Jorgensen accusing Baty and Zachary of causing the damage.
According to the original Sheriff’s Office statement immediately after the shooting, Jorgensen lived next door to Baty, who resided with Zachary and a third man, Daniel Luken. The initial statement suggested that Jorgensen went to Baty’s home to confront him about the damage. An argument ensued, leading to Baty retreating into his house and allegedly locking himself inside. Jorgensen purportedly followed Baty inside, attempting to break down the door, which led to Baty defending his home with a 12-gauge shotgun.
However, as the investigation progressed, the circumstances surrounding the shooting changed dramatically. It was revealed during the trial that the real motive for the murder was Jorgensen’s threat to expose Baty’s past sexual abuse against him. Fearing the repercussions of this revelation and determined not to return to prison, Baty devised a plan to shoot Jorgensen to death with the help of his friend, Daniel Luken. After Baty shot Jorgensen, Luken took the horrific step of slitting Jorgensen’s throat while he was still alive.
Alvin Zachary, who confirmed Baty’s murder plans, severely undermined Baty’s self-defense claim. He also testified that Jorgenson’s last words before he was murdered were directed toward Baty when he asked him “Why did you touch me?” Investigators also established that Jorgensen was unarmed at the time of the shooting, further discrediting Baty’s defense.
The case took another dark turn with the involvement of Baty’s co-conspirator. Daniel Joseph Luken, a registered sex offender from Houston, was arrested after fleeing the scene before deputies arrived. He was later murdered by his cellmate at the Gib Lewis Unit in Woodville, Texas, on Jan. 6, 2023. Zachary, who is currently serving a 20-year sentence in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) on unrelated charges to the murder, appeared in court on a bench warrant. His testimony during the trial was crucial, as he detailed Baty’s intentions and actions.
With compelling evidence and testimonies presented, the jury reached a verdict in less than an hour, convicting Baty of capital murder. This non-death capital murder conviction means that Baty will spend the rest of his natural life in prison without the possibility of parole.
“Today, justice was served in the case of Edwin Thomas Baty, who was found guilty of capital murder. This verdict is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office and the District Attorney’s prosecutorial team, who all worked tirelessly on this case. I extend my deepest gratitude to the jury for their diligence and discernment in seeing through the defendant’s unfounded claim of self-defense. The harsh sentences handed down by Liberty County jurors reflect our community’s unwavering commitment to upholding justice and ensuring the safety of our citizens,” said Liberty County District Attorney Jennifer Bergman.
“As a prosecutor, I’ve encountered many serious and heinous crimes, but this particular case profoundly impacted me. This horrible monster abused the victim when he was just a young boy, grooming him for his own deviant purposes. When the victim finally found the courage and strength to come forward and expose the abuse, Baty murdered him in a cruel attempt to silence the truth. Justice was served today, and Baty will spend the remainder of his life behind bars, where monsters like him deserve to be,” said Assistant District Attorney Mark Boemio.
Predators like him deserve death in my opinion